Explorer for ArcGIS

Use maps

Make maps

Markup

In this topic

Use markup to capture sketches and notes on the map. Markup is saved as a layer on your device: you can use it with any map, and updates made to maps don't affect it. You can use markup for your own personal information, similar to drawing on a paper map. Or you can share it to communicate with others, including staff back in the office and colleagues in the field.

Caution:

Markup isn't associated with the map you were viewing when you made it.

Uninstalling the app deletes any markup layers. Before uninstalling, make sure you share any markup layers that you want to preserve, for example, by emailing them to yourself.

Add markup

Use Explorer to author markup, including markers and arrows, lines, and shapes. Add notes and labels to markup to communicate extra information. When viewing a map, select Markup to add to or modify your markup layer.

The toolbar changes and you see the markup tools (shown below). The behavior of the map changes to support markup. Since the gestures are used for markup-specific behavior, you can no longer drop pins or view details about pins or features. If you have dropped a pin, it is cleared. You can still zoom in and out and rotate the map, and you can still pan the map using two fingers.

Try it

If you have used markup before, and have multiple markup layers, selecting Markup prompts you to choose which layer you want to work with.

Add a marker to the map.

At a specific location—Long press on the map.

At the center of the map—Select Add Marker.

The panel displays details about the marker and tools for manipulating the selected markup. You can provide a label or notes, delete the marker, add an arrow, or change the marker's color.

Drag a marker to move it to a new location on the map.

Tip:

Selecting markup on the map shows its details. In the details, you can view and edit the label and notes.

Provide a label for the marker.

A label is a short, identifying string for the marker, paired with the marker's color. Often, this is used to indicate a category of markers. For example, if you are using markup to plan out a construction site, you might use markers to indicate the type of equipment. If you have support trailers and cranes, use Trailer and Crane labels for each one that you place on your map, ideally with distinct colors, to see their placements without having to view the details of each marker. Labels are not intended to be used for text unique to each marker: use notes for that. Instead, each label you add becomes a choice in the available labels with the next marker you add. If you choose an existing label, you will get both the label and its associated color applied to your selected markup.

The marker's symbol on the map displays the first letter from the label.

Tip:

If you provide notes, three dots display in the symbol below the first letter from the label.

Add an arrow to your marker.

You can drag the tip of the arrow to the location where you want it to point. If you move the marker, the length and angle of the arrow change, keeping the tip's location unchanged.

Use your finger and draw a line or shape on the map.

As you did for your marker, you can add a label and notes on lines and shapes.

If you drew a line, the tools in the details panel let you delete the line, add an arrow to the end of it, or change its color.

If you drew a shape, tools in the details panel let you delete the shape, fill it in, or change its color. The fill color is the same as the outline of the shape, but it has some transparency.

If you drew a line that was almost straight, or a shape that was almost a rectangle or circle, a help bubble appears beside your shape, showing the shape the app senses you may be trying to draw. Selecting it turns your shape into a straight line, perfect circle, or perfect rectangle.

Drag your line or shape to move it on the map.

When you have added the markers, lines, and shapes you need, stop marking up your map by selecting Done.

The map displays, along with its standard toolbar. You can again pan with a single finger, drop pins, and view pin and feature details.

Tip:

If you no longer see the markup, make sure its layer is displaying on the map. As with any layer, its visibility can be turned on and off in the Layers list.

Manage markup layers

To organize your sketches and notes, whether for your own purposes or to share them with different audiences, you can create multiple markup layers in Explorer. One, named Markup, is created for you when you install the app. By default, that is the layer that you add markup to. This layer, like any other markup layer you create, can be renamed. Explorer requires that you have at least one markup layer. However, if you have multiple markup layers, you can delete them.

Markup layers can be created, renamed, and deleted in Markup Layers, accessible when you are working with markup. Use Add to create a new markup layer, or use Overflow to rename or delete an existing layer.

Tip:

You can only delete a markup layer if another markup layer remains.

Since markup is stored on your device, it is also deleted if you uninstall the app.

If you don't want to see your markup, but don't want it removed from your device, turn off its visibility in the Layers list .

Share markup

Sharing markup makes it a useful tool for communicating with others. Even if it is for your own personal use, you may want to use it in another part of the ArcGIS system. Markup can be shared as an image or as raw markup by using Share while you are editing the markup.

Note:

When sharing markup, you are sharing a copy. Changes made to the original won't be reflected in the shared markup, and changes made in the shared markup won't affect the original layer.

Markup is shared while you are editing its layer. If you aren't already editing the markup you want to share, select Markup to start editing it.

As an image—You can create a screen capture of your markup and share that as you would any image. The screen capture honors the current extent of the map.

To create the screen capture and share your markup as an image, select Share, select Share a Screenshot, and choose how the image should be shared. For example, you can share it through email, a message, AirDrop, or even to a printer.

As markup, directly to another device or user—You can share the markup, providing the layer itself to the recipient. It includes all the markup that is in the layer you are currently editing, including the geometry, symbology, label, and any notes for each feature in your markup, contained in a .markup file that can be imported in Explorer.

To share with another device or user, select Share, select Share Markup, and choose how the markup should be shared. For example, you can share it through email, a message, or AirDrop.

The recipient of your markup can use Explorer to view and even add and edit the markup as it is stored on their device. This is a good way to share markup from one mobile worker to another.

Note:

Information about the map that you were viewing when you shared the markup isn't included.

To open the markup, the recipient must have Explorer installed.

As a markup item, through your organization—If you are a Level 2 user, you can share the markup as an item in your organization on either ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise. The markup item created in your organization contains all the markup that is in the layer you are currently editing, including the geometry, symbology, label, and any notes for each feature in your markup.

Select Share, select Share Markup, and select ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise (the one available to you depends on your account). Specify who the markup item should be shared with (if anyone), and select Save.

Markup items are shared throughout your organization in the same way as any other item—see Share items (ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise). Once the markup item is part of your organization, you can use it throughout the ArcGIS system. This is a good way to share markup from a mobile worker to office workers. See Consume markup for details on using markup that is shared with your organization.

Note:

Information about the map that you were viewing when you shared the markup isn't included.

Sharing your markup through your organization makes a copy of your markup into the markup item stored in your organization. Future updates in the markup on your device aren't reflected in the markup layer in your organization. To get your changes to your organization, you need to share the layer again, making a new markup layer in your organization.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.5 and Portal for ArcGIS 10.3.1 and 10.4.1 have limited support for markup.

Consume markup

Sharing your markup lets others consume it. Mobile workers in the field and ArcGIS users in the office can see and act on what you've found. How recipients can use the markup that you share depends on how you share it. If you share it directly with another mobile worker as a .markup file, they can open and work with the markup in Explorer. If you share it with your organization as a markup layer, those with whom you share it can use it through your organization both in the field and in the office.

Using markup shared as a .markup file directly from another user or device is the same as using markup that you create yourself. You can open it in Explorer and then add markup, manage markup layers, and share markup the same as you would any markup layer and as discussed earlier in this topic.

When using markup shared as a markup layer with your organization, you can work with the markup outside of Explorer. You can use it in ArcGIS Pro 2.0 or later, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Enterprise. In ArcGIS Pro, open the Catalog pane, select the Portal category, browse to the markup item in your organization, and drag it onto your map. In ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise, you can add the markup to a new map, and save and use that map as you would any other map.

Tip:

If you want to convert your markup to KML, you can do so with ArcGIS Pro.

Markup is shared as a copy. Changes made to the original won't be reflected in the shared markup, and changes made in the shared markup won't affect the original layer.

Limitations

There are some limitations and known issues with consuming markup:

Editing markup outside of Explorer (for example, in ArcGIS Online) is not supported.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.5 and Portal for ArcGIS 10.3.1 and 10.4.1 have limited support for markup. Shared markup shows it as a Feature Collection (not as a Markup item).

If you add markup that was created and shared with Explorer for ArcGIS 17.1.2 or earlier to a new map in ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise and open the new map in Explorer, the markup won't render. The markup renders if it's created with Explorer for ArcGIS 18.1 or later.